Thank you for your letter of 29 January on the subject of the decision about Belmarsh. I will send the Home Secretary a copy of your letter so that he too is aware of your concerns in this regard and will write to you again when I have a reply.

Yours sincerely,

NICK HAWKINS MP

He has completely ignored the bit which says 'I would be extremely interested to hear your personal views on this matter.'

I know the views of Charles Clarke, though I'm happy that the home secretary will know that he is opposed - what I don't know are the views of my own MP. If when he replies he simply forwards the response of Clarke, then I shall press him on this issue. Especially as he lists his special interests on his website as 'Home affairs, law and order...'

I've emailed them both with a copy of the letter I've sent to Nick Hawkins and asked for their responses. I haven't bothered with the labour candidate as they don't stand a snowball's chance in hell of getting in here.